Heartbreak at home: Caps go down in a classic against the Flames

The UC Capitals suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Sydney Flames in one of the games of the season. A spirited performance by captain Jade Melbourne was not enough as the Flames got the job done 92-88 to hold down fourth place on the table.
Capitals’ Nyadiew Puoch was critical in the paint, while Indiah Bowyer also contributed on the offensive end. Sheneice Swain was at her brilliant best, dropping 36 points while Cayla George put up a herculean effort by playing the entirety of the game.
The win for Sydney means their finals destiny is in their own hands with three games remaining. On the other hand the Capitals will have to put the loss behind them quickly, with a game against Geelong on Saturday.
This is how is all played out!
First Quarter
Jade Melbourne started fast for the caps with an early bucket in the lane, followed by a deep three and an ‘and 1’ inside. Shaneice Swain and Cayla George answered fast for the Flames, working in tandem to reel in the Caps early lead.
Jade continued to pull the strings on the offence, working well in the pick and roll to find Indi Bowyer for a corner three.
Some physical basketball late in the quarter was sharply followed by a three-point shot to Nicole Munger before a brilliant defensive rebound by Nards saw her quickly get downhill, scoring a tough bucket and drawing a foul which was converted at the free throw line.
Swain continued to cause trouble for the caps however, finishing the first quarter with 17 points and showing early shades of her 40-point performance two weeks ago.
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UC Caps 30
Flames 28
Second Quarter
The high-scoring opening period was contrasted by the 2nd quarter in which both teams raised the intensity in defense.
Swain got to the rim with ease early in the quarter and then dodged a double team to create a brilliant assist. The intense guard battle would continue as Jade quickly returned serve with a crossover followed by a no look assist to Nards.
A sneaky steal by Indi Bowyer saw her find Charli Collier for an inside basket and foul to bring the AIS to its feet.
The Flames, undeterred by the stirring atmosphere, found the basket once again on the inside, however it was quickly answered by Nards with two converted free throws after a heavy collision in the paint.
Some brilliant efforts on the defensive end by Nicole Munger, including her 4th rebound kept the Caps in the contest during a run where the team missed 5 consecutive shots, before coach Gorris called a timeout ending three and a half minutes of scoreless play from both sides.
Physicality would climb on both ends of the court, with numerous players ending up on the floor following a huge collision of bodies resulting in two converted free throws by Tahlia Tupaea.
A late basket to Katie Deeble saw the Caps take a one-point lead into the half time break.
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UC Caps 45
Flames 44
Third Quarter
Cayla George started the quarter with two tough defensive rebounds, the second of which led to a three pointer by Celeste Taylor. Refusing to let George dictate, Nards would record three consecutive rebounds of her own before hitting a huge three pointer which gave the lead back to the Caps.

Jade Melbourne would get back in the action not long after, hitting a three from the exact same spot. The 10-0 run prompted a timeout by the Flames.
The move paid immediate dividends, as the adjustments made halted the Caps momentum with Sydney showing great courage to scrap their way back into the match.
However, the Caps once again found the answers with Jade Melbourne heating up to record eight straight points, the best of which a step back corner three to beat the shot clock, off the back of a rebound by veteran Abby Bishop. Celeste Taylor would score four straight points of her own before Tupaea would again put up a crucial three to keep Sydney in the game, stifling the Caps momentum and bringing the difference back to one point by the end of the third quarter.
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UC Caps 64
Flames 63
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter provided some of the most dramatic scenes in the WNBL this season.
Swain came out swinging, putting up a great three pointer to give Sydney the lead. The back-and-forth nature of the game would not relent, with Charli Collier bringing scores level again. Not longer after Collier would combine with fellow big Puoch to give the caps back the lead.
A huge foul against Jade Melbourne saw her hit the floor, with the guard answering by revving up the AIS crowd and then finding Bowyer again in the corner for a critical three.
Swain again showed her class to return fire from range, levelling the game and prompting a timeout from Coach Gorris with a critical final four minutes ahead in the context of both teams’ seasons.
A brilliant pass from the seemingly unfatigued Cayla George set up Taylor who finished with a reverse layup, before the center followed up with a three soon after.
Just when the momentum was seeming to swing Sydney’s way, Nards would provide the biggest moment of the night so far with an inside bucket plus the foul. Jade Melbourne would stand up again with a mid-range shot not long after to grant the Caps a precarious 2-point advantage with two and half minutes remaining.
The Capitals bigs running battle with George in the paint intensified late in the quarter. It saw Nards head to the free throw line, missing both, before Charli Collier claimed a rebound and a foul, before again missing out on any points.

Jade Melbourne had no such issues, continuing her stellar night with a clutch rebound supported by two free throws to return the two-point advantage to the Caps.
With 1:10 left on the clock Sydney inbounded from a time out with Swain standing up with another driving layup to tie the game. A turnover threatened to derail the game for the Caps but Nards stepped up and immediately forced a turnover returning the ball to the team. However, on the next possesion the Capitals failed to find a basket,
The Flames brought the ball down through Swain, with the guard putting up a shot that just fell short, giving the Caps one last chance from a timeout to claim a victory with 1.8 seconds remaining.
The crowd in the AIS rose to their feet, sensing the occasion. Bishop inbounded with a perfect lob to Puoch in the paint, who put up a shot from under the basket which just rimmed out. The Caps faithful fell to a shocked hush before again finding its energy, cheering on the team as the game was sent to overtime.
UC Caps 80
Flames 80
Overtime
The AIS lifted one final time in an effort to bring the Caps home in the last five minutes.
Sydney got the first say however, thanks to a three pointer to Isabella Bracatisiano. The Caps looked to to play through Jade, who found the answer with a mid-range jump shot before a bucket to the Flames sent them to a four-point lead.
A foul on Jade not long after saw Sydney extend the lead to 6, with three minutes remaining.
Some great backcourt defense by Nards forced a 10 second violation and returned the ball to the capitals before she continued to make amends for her late miss with a critical ‘And 1’. She would return to the line not long after, putting up one of two free throws to reduce the lead to 2. A bucket to Jade saw the Capitals regain the lead for the first time in OT.
The players returned to the court after a timeout, fatigue visible on both sides. Celeste Taylor would miss a critical shot but a hugely important rebound and kick out by George saw Taylor make immediate amends with a three that took Sydney to the lead.
A turnover late in the game put Sydney in the box seat, with a three-point lead and time not on the Caps side. With Swain at the line, the guard would miss the first, while the second free throw bounced an agonising four times before falling through for an invaluable point.
A turnover following a time out sealed the loss, Sydney claiming an important victory on the road in their finals hunt.
Final Score
Caps 88
Flames 92
Key Performers
UC Capitals
Jade Melbourne 28 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts
Nyadiew Puoch 19 pts, 11 rebs, 2 steals
Charli Collier 15 pts, 7 rebs, 1 steal
Sydney Flames
Sheneice Swain 36 pts, 4 rebs, 6 asts
Celeste Taylor 22 pts, 3 rebs, 4 asts, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Cayla George 14 pts, 17 rebs, 5 asts